Each year, the City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department (ESD) recognizes excellence in recycling and waste reduction by giving awards to businesses and organizations that have implemented or expanded innovative and successful waste reduction, recycling and recycled product purchasing programs.

Applicants for the 2017 Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards program were eligible to win in several categories, including Recycler of the Year, Rising Star and Outstanding Achievement. Applicants with the most comprehensive, innovative and/or improved recycling programs received the highest honor, the Recycler of the Year Award.

Top winners were presented awards by City Councilmember Christopher Ward on April 6 at a special awards ceremony held at the San Diego Central Library. The ESD congratulates the following organizations for their efforts and accomplishments in protecting the environment, promoting sustainability, and conserving natural resources:

Outstanding Achievement Award

Criteria: Any business or organization that consistently demonstrates extraordinary efforts expanding an existing recycling program year after year; awarded “Recycler of the Year” for five consecutive years; and has participated in the City’s Business Recycling program for at least 10 years. The 2017 winners are:

Criteria: New applicants that have achieved exemplary recycling results through innovation and persistence.

1. Café Gratitude San Diego, LLC

2. Hazard Center

3. Specialty Produce

The waste diversion programs of these businesses and organizations contributed to the City of San Diego being able to decrease the amount of trash brought into the Miramar Landfill. This decrease has extended the lifespan of the landfill from 2012 to at least 2030. Their efforts are also helping the City with diverting 100 percent or Zero Waste going to the landfill by 2040.

Industry Leader Award

A special award was given to the owners of EDCO Disposal, Ed and Sandy Burr. This family owned and locally operated waste collection and recycling company is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2017, serving customers in the City of San Diego and the Southern California region. With EDCO’s focus on recycling, and significant investment in recycling infrastructure, EDCO truly is considered a loyal partner of the City and an industry leader.

“I’m truly happy for the organizations recognized at this year’s Waste Reduction Awards event,” said Mario X. Sierra, director of the ESD. “The teams of people who dedicated many hours of their time to making their organizations more efficient with their different waste streams and energy resources should also be commended by their management.”